Mind and Body

The shock of a blood cancer diagnosis and the stress of long hospital stays in isolation, sometimes far from home, can be very difficult for families to cope with.

We think that these families need more support and are excited to announce that Leukaemia UK is at the forefront of an initiative to provide just that.

We believe that the advances achieved in medical treatments need to be matched by much greater emotional and wellbeing care for the person affected by blood cancer and their loved ones. We think they would cope better with treatments, and be able to look more confidently to the future with such support.

The psychological impact of treatments for leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and other blood disorders are quite different to those of other cancers. There is no tumour to 'remove' from the body, and treatments involve the need for isolation from infection, making visiting and social contact very difficult for many weeks.

Emotional support during and after this period is, we feel, an essential part of treatment.

That's why in January 2018, we launched a revolution in blood cancer care: our Mind and Body Team

Our first team of dedicated counsellor and clinical psychologist support specifically designed for haematological patients will be located at King's College Hospital in London, for an initial period of two years. We anticipate to find that patients recover faster, need fewer medications and can be released from hospital sooner when they feel supported.

For the first time we will be able to measure and evaluate the difference made to patient recovery and wellbeing, and we hope to prove that providing top class emotional support, as well as excellent clinical care, will make a significant difference to patients and their families.

Dr Jacobson supported me after my transplant and helped me to recover my mental health and well-being. If it wasn’t for her I don’t think I would be in the position I am today!’

Jessica, who at the age of 24 was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia.

Philip Alexander, haemato-oncology counsellor and psychotherapist at King's believes the unique approach of the Leukaemia UK Mind and Body Team could prevent more serious forms of mental health problems.

He said: "This is about coping and adjustment. We are about being there from the outset, helping people to adjust and to cope with the experience and maybe by doing this, we can in some cases prevent Post Traumatic Stress or depression from developing."

Related

Clinical psychologist, Dr Clare Jacobson, was funded by Leukaemia UK for two years. Find out why her ground breaking approach to psychology is having a major impact on her blood cancer patients’ wellbeing.